For the record, my politics couldn't be more different than Meghan McCain's. The 24-year-old daughter of John McCain, Meghan is a conservative political writer who blogs about Washington.

Truthfully, I didn't know she was a writer until she became news over the last few days. It seems Meghan has had some moments of brilliance lately, taking on Ann Coulter and calling her "offensive, radical, insulting, and confusing" (agreed!), and then having the earth-shattering idea that Republicans should play nice in the sandbox with Democrats because it would benefit the country.

It seems Laura Ingraham, a conservative talking head, didn't like Meghan's ideas. On her radio show, Laura called Meghan "a valley girl gone awry" and a "plus-sized model." Mind you, these two are hardly Rush Limbaugh and Michael Moore. They're members of the same political party. They both make a living as political commentators. They share many of the same ideas, except, apparently, the desire to try and unite the country under our new president.

Attacking someone's ideas is one thing. Maligning her physical appearance like a 12-year-old is another.

Institutionalized sexism does enough to harm women. In 2009, we're still making .77 cents for ever dollar made by an equally qualified man. A vast majority of the Fortune 500 companies are run by men. Women and men alike still think men make better leaders than women. Women attacking other women and essentially silencing them not because of differing views but because they're "too fat" or their voices are "too shrill" or they "wear too many pantsuits" is revolting. Why is it still considered socially acceptable to criticize a woman's weight and appearance?

The feminist movement has come a long way since the days of suffrage, but apparently, not far enough.

5 Responses to “Nothing to Gain”

This whole conversation has made me sick. It's so sad that there's no room for differing opinions, personal attacks on someone you disagree with are the way to go. I've been impressed to see McCain take the high road. Lost in the argument, and deservedly so, because it doesn't really matter in the bigger much more important points, is that she's hardly plus-sized. She wears an 8-10.

Unfortunately, I think you're right, women still have a long, long way to go. Isn't it a shame that an attack like this comes from another woman?

"Doctor" Laura has taken the high road as usual. She's old enough to be Meghan's mom and look who comes off looking like the petty 12-year-old. She is such trash. I don't care what party she's with, she's a damned embarrassment.

And I am annoyed that after all this time, we are still doing this TO EACH OTHER. WTF? It's up to us to raise our daughters better.

I haven't been following this, but I'm shocked that a woman would attack another woman for her weight, especially in public. Politics just seems to be getting crazier and crazier, while there are much bigger things to be talking and working on.

Quick Snapshot:

34-year-old writer andmother to a daughterborn in August 2006 followingIVF and girl/boy twins born in October 2008 following FET. Come along as I document the search for my lost intellect. It's a bumpy ride. Consider yourself warned.